TransNorth, The Future

For the past few days, we've been looking at the experiences of the Transgender community. And now, we are finishing up our series -- TransNorth -- with a look to the future. We asked the people we interviewed what they hoped for next. And here's what they said.

TransNorth, Part 8

He. She. Him. Her. Them. Theirs. Personal pronouns are those tiny words in language that are supposed to stand in for people and things. We use them to be succinct and clear-- and dump all the clunky, repetitive nouns. But that language doesn't do a good job for everybody. Greyson Gritt is a Sudbury-born musician who is exploring gender. Unlike some we've heard from this week who describe their experience as "trapped in the wrong body", Grey's experience of gender is more like a gradient... and "he" and "she" don't always cut it. The CBC's Jessica Pope chatted with Greyson Gritt about pronouns, language, how we use it--and how it shapes our ideas of gender.

TransNorth, Part 7

Today on our series, TransNorth, we're talking about the power of peer support. Twice a month, trans-people in Sudbury meet to talk about issues and just spend time together. The CBC's Jenifer Norwell stopped by a meeting. And found out a little more about what it's like to be young and trans gender from two young men who were raised as female.

TransNorth, Part 6

We continue now with TransNorth...our look at the transgender community in northern Ontario. As the saying goes...it's never too late to try. And 73-year-old Darlyn Hansen is a perfect example of that. Here's her story of transformation at any age.

TransNorth, Part 5

Like all of us, life for people in the trans-community is defined by a lot more than their gender. As we continue our look this week at the lives of transgender people in the north, we get some perspective on going out, working and looking for love from a trans-man in Sudbury. The CBC's Jenifer Norwell met him at a local restaurant.

TransNorth, Part 4

It's hard enough to find a doctor in this region. Imagine trying to find one if you're a person who is questioning their gender... or in the process of medical transition. Treanor Mahood-Greer knows what that's all about. He's a trans-man living in North Bay. Jessica Pope asked him to share his thoughts on what's it's like trying to access trans-competent health services in the North.

TransNorth, Public Washrooms

For most people, choosing which public bathroom to go to isn't even an issue. But for the Trans-community, washrooms can be a place loaded with judgement and gender. The CBC's Jenifer Norwell went to the public bathroom with Rita O'Link -- a trans-woman living in Sudbury.

TransNorth, Gender Question

This week, we're looking at the Transgender experience in northern Ontario with our series TransNorth. Yesterday, we heard a documentary from the CBC's Jenifer Norwell on understanding gender. She talked about how some other cultures have space for more than two genders in their society.

TransNorth, Part 3

The simple act of getting ready in the morning can be transformative for people in the Trans-community. What the mirror tells you might not be who you feel you really are. In this installment of our series TransNorth, the CBC's Jenifer Norwell met up with one transgender woman in Sudbury, who reflects on her transition from man to woman, and what she sees in the mirror these days.

TransNorth, Part 2

Boys and girls. Men and women. Guys and gals. The list goes on, but missing is an acknowledgement that there are people who don't feel that they fit into a rigid, two gender binary system. All this week, we're exploring aspects of the transgender community in Northern Ontario as part of our special series, "TransNorth".

TransNorth, Part 1

Today, we're launching a special series here Morning North -- a project called TransNorth. It looks at the experiences of some of the transgender community living in the northeast. From the issues that impact their lives... to what some hope for the future.The CBC's Jenifer Norwell has been working on this project with Jessica Pope.

TransNorth

Chantelle Helson before her transformation (Submitted)

TransNorth

"I'm proud of who I am and unashamed to show it. I didn't get to where I am without overcoming my fears of being publicly outed. I am public[ly] out. Sure, I get chided periodically; sometimes outright ridiculed, but that doesn't stop me from continuing forward with pride, dignity, and self respect. Without these three qualities combined with a shot of courage, none of us would be on this [TransNorth] program.... We are who we are. Let's just be proud of it, in both our past, present, and future."

TransNorth

Chantelle Helson (Jenifer Norwell/CBC)

TransNorth

Darlyn Hansen on a vacation to Cuba.

TransNorth

Rita O'Link showing of a skirt she plans to purchase in a Sudbury store.

TransNorth

Gary Kinsman at his office at Laurentian University (Jenifer Norwell/CBC)

TransNorth

Gary Kinsman at his office at Laurentian University (Jenifer Norwell/CBC)

TransNorth

Gaston Cotnoir in his office at Réseau Access Network in Sudbury (Jenifer Norwell/CBC)

TransNorth

Rita O'Link at a public washroom. (Jenifer Norwell/CBC)

TransNorth

Rita O'Link at a public washroom. (Jenifer Norwell/CBC)

TransNorth

Bracelets at Réseau Access Network (Jenifer Norwell/CBC)

TransNorth

Nate Solomon at the Laughing Budda in Sudbury (Jenifer Norwell/CBC)

TransNorth

Ethan Seré (Jenifer Norwell/CBC)

TransNorth

Ethan Seré and his best friend, Brianne Nupponen at the transgendered support group, Transformations (Jenifer Norwell/CBC)

TransNorth

Damien Dupuis (Jenifer Norwell/CBC)

TransNorth

Cards to give out to people who are bothering transgendered people (Jenifer Norwell/CBC)

TransNorth

Pottery art at Better Beginnings, Better Futures in Sudbury, a space where people can receive multiple social services under one roof (Jenifer Norwell/CBC)

TransNorth

TransNorth: Treanor Mahood-Greer

Treanor Mahood-Greer is a trans-man living in North Bay. "As a child I hated any picture of myself, but this one was my favourite. It is taken at the Royal Botanical Gardens – Rock Chapel, near Hamilton, Ontario. I organized this picture by walking off the trail, posing myself, and getting my mother to take the picture. I thought I would ‘look cool’, but I don’t think at the time that I knew my hair looked like that. So it took awhile before I truly appreciated the little Butch standing there. This would be around 1964 to 1966, as I’d be what, 8 or 10ish?"

TransNorth: Treanor Mahood-Greer

Treanor Mahood-Greer, 1990. Harker Township, near Kirkland Lake. "This is me in one of my prime years. I would be 34. I am working in the bush as a geological technician. At this time in my life I self identify as a lesbian, but I was not out as a Butch as I didn’t believe I was ‘Butch enough.’"

TransNorth: Treanor Mahood-Greer

Treanor Mahood-Greer. Harker Township, near Kirkland Lake. "This is around 1990, I was starting to "cross dress" with men’s suits. Every year, my company and I would go to the Prospector’s Convention in Toronto and stay at the Royal York. I got this tux and wore it. One of my bosses told me I looked like the waiter. Because I had no where to wear it in the bush, I would sometimes put it on and walk around the camp. I am standing on the dock and I am not binding, as I didn’t do that successfully at the time."

TransNorth: Treanor Mahood-Greer

Treanor Mahood-Greer. Sudbury. "This is me graduating from Laurentian University with my Honours Native Human Services BSW in 1998. At the time, I identified as a lesbian, but I was beginning to except the fact that I was indeed a Butch, (I came out as trans one year later). The clothes I am wearing are all marked as "men’s clothes". I am receiving my degree from the chancellor of the University at the time. He always had the same expression for all the graduates. At the time of this picture, which was taken by my mother, he was asking me about my future plans. I responded, "Well, I guess I was a radical Lesbian feminist here, so I suppose I will go be a radical Lesbian feminist somewhere else". Without changing his expression, his response was, "Well I wish you well on your endeavours."

TransNorth: Treanor Mahood-Greer

Treanor Mahood-Greer. North Bay. "Working at the Northeast Mental Health Centre – District Mental Health Unit, around 2008 maybe. I could never understand why I was always construed as a female person when I ‘looked like that.’ I fully identify as a trans-person. I’ve tried to have people use gender neutral pronouns, such as per, but of course that didn’t work."

TransNorth: Treanor Mahood-Greer

Treanor Mahood-Greer. North Bay.
"Another picture from about 2008, but I just have to throw in a shot with John Wayne. I know now that my gender identity dysphoria has always been influenced by how I see myself in relation to the Duke."

TransNorth: Treanor Mahood-Greer

Treanor Mahood-Greer, North Bay.
"About three years ago, 2010. My first ‘Ride for Dad’ on my first bike. I have always wanted a bike, and I called this one ‘Sex Change’ because I couldn’t afford an actual sex change. I am fully identifying as transgender here, and wanted everyone to use gender neutral pronouns. But of course not everyone knew that. I was construed as a guy, until I spoke, then I was construed as a woman. However, I was not treated as a woman, because people did not engage with me as they did with the other ‘women’ attending the ride."

TransNorth: Treanor Mahood-Greer

Treanor Mahood-Greer. Hamilton.
"This is at a family gathering in 2010. I am fully identifying as a trans-man at this point in my life. I am pre-T [testosterone hormone therapy] as they say by two years. However, I was not out to anyone (officially) other than my wife. So I still got called ‘she’."

TransNorth: Treanor Mahood-Greer

Treanor Mahood-Greer. North Bay.
"I am four weeks on ‘T’ [testosterone hormone therapy] here. I have some voice changes, but not a lot. And there are some facial changes. I have a sense that I am getting longer in the face. This picture was taken by my wife near the end of June, 2012. I am having a bad hair day here."

TransNorth: Treanor Mahood-Greer

Treanor Mahood-Greer. North Bay.
"For these next two pictures I am 20 weeks on ‘T’ [testosterone hormone therapy]. The pictures are taken by myself on October 17, 2012. People often say one reason they feel they can talk to me so easily is because I am ‘so comfortable’ with who I am. I have always struggled to find that comfort. But I can say now that I am getting comfortable with who I am."

TransNorth: Treanor Mahood-Greer

"My eyebrows are thickening. And I feel very strong, very confident and very comfortable with myself. And I am loved by my family and my friends. Obviously there are no pictures here of me looking like a ‘girl’. That is because I can be happy with who I am and I can feel confident about my transition, but people can and will still use that against me. So for that reason, I cannot afford to have such pictures in a public space. The journey continues..."

TransNorth: Treanor Mahood-Greer

This is a part of Treanor Mahood-Greer's signoff on outgoing work emails.